My December’s favorites

January 6, 2018

I spent some time off social media in December and I have to says that it was nice to take a break from all the bustle it brings that is super inspiring but also a bit exhausting sometimes. But this short break didn’t prevent me to make some discoveries about the bullet journal system and productivity in general.I hope my list of favorites will bring you some inspiration… Since I got a lot of messages after some of my recent Instagram posts, I feel fairly optimistic that you’ll like the selection I made for the third edition of my favorites.

Projects notebook by 23h59 editions♥︎

I gave you a glimpse of it on Instagram a few days ago, even though I received the Projects Notebook by 23h59 editions weeks ago. I’m slowly starting to fill it, and I’ll definitely give you a full review of it as soon as I’ll feel comfortable with the method. In the meantime, I thought you may enjoy a quick overview.

Outside

I have to confess that I fell in love with this notebook… Beside the function of it (setting goals and planning to reach them), the Projects Notebook is a true stationery wonder. The cover is simple and clean, made of deep blue light cardboard. The cream paper is thick, and should allow to write comfortably with a huge range of pens. But the detail that makes a difference is the binding: the notebook features a Swiss binding, so that the notebook can lay flat despite the high number of pages. This fancy binding is the perfect final touch for this luxury notebook.

Inside

The notebook comes with a starter kit that explains the methods that will help you set your goals and reach them. It provides everything you may need to have a good start!

When you (finally!) open the notebook, you’ll find out that everything is deep blue themed and the layouts are just like the cover as well: simple and neat, with a special care put into the look. The methods explained in the starter kit are to be applied thanks to special spread as well as monthly, weekly logs and reviews and notes pages (and a lot of other amazing features).

I’ll stop at this point for this first overview, but you can count on a deeper post about this organisation tool as soon as possible. If you want to learn more about this amazing notebook, you can of course head on over the 23h59 editions website.

Yuzz it
♥︎

Yuzz it is described as a smart reminder and that’s a pretty fair description of it! It’s actually a smart keychain that features 4 functions: it allows the user to log a location, to identify music, to record voice notes and to easily find your keys. I confess I haven’t try all the features yet. For now, I only use the voice notes record function.

How does it work ?

The keychain can be used with (almost) any smartphone via a free app. Once the app is installed, you just have to push the one and only button of the keychain and speak what’s in your head in the same time. The voice note is then downloaded on your smartphone.Well nothing really fancy so far, but YuzzIt has just the perfect feature to make a difference: you can use hashtags.

This hashtag feature allows to sort your voice notes automatically, which is super useful. To do so, you just need to enunciate the hashtag clear and loud at the beginning or at the end of the voice note: for instance, if you say “hashtag blog”, the app will automatically put your voici note with all the other notes with the same tag. Super easy and super useful if don’t want to listen to dozens of voice notes before finding the one you’re actually looking for.

I typically use this widget to log blog posts ideas when I can’t write them down, or to make grocery lists.

YuzzIt also have weaknesses and 2 of them are especially bothering me. first, the device use Bluetooth to connect with the smartphone, so it requires it to be constantly on to make it work. I noticed that my phone battery last a little less longer than usual since I started to use it. That’s a critical drawback if, just like me, you have trouble to make your phone survive for a whole day. Secondly, I noticed that even though the app is really good at identifying hashtags, it sometimes has trouble to do it right when the hashtags are in English.

In the end, I don’t think YuzzIt could completely replace the mini notepad I always bring with me as I’m sketching a lot in it, but it’s definitely a useful widget for me. I finally can take notes even though I forgot my pen or if I’m out in the street and have them organized at once!

Sea Lemon’s bookbinding tutorials
♥︎

notebooks + DIY = bookbinding

I’m both a stationery lover and a DIY addict, so I couldn’t resist to learn bookbinding. I started bookbinding a few months ago, in order to craft my own notebooks, using some the layouts I designed to get organized at work. I also crafted the thick notebook I’ll use as my bullet journal for 2018.

I’m regularly asked on Instagram to make a video tutorial to share bookbinding techniques with you. I honestly don’t feel that I’m expert enough in both bookbinding and video shooting to do such a thing… But I’m happy to share one of my favorite bookbinding Youtube channel: Sea Lemon.

My 2018 bullet journal is a handbound notebook, crafted with the tools above. Crafting my own notebooks allows me to design some pre-printed pages that perfectly fit my needs, such as the index and future log.

Sea Lemon’s content is pretty diverse, and isn’t focused on paper and journaling only, but the bookbinding tutorials are awesome. I actually learned bookbinding just watching Jennifer’s videos and trying to do the same at home with very few tools.Sea Lemon’s channel features video tutorial for several book binding techniques, including some creative japanese binding. As for myself, I use a classic sewn and glued binding, also used by most of the notebooks manufacturers (such as Leuchtturm, Quo Vadis or Rhodia for instance).

I basically learned how to craft handbound notebooks thanks to this video.

Instagram bullet journal discoveries♥︎

Bujo.Tastic

I highly recommend to follow this amazing Instagram account, being a fan myself! I love the clean look of the spreads, with just a touch of sophistication in the headers and quotes. Most of the weekly spreads are already advanced, as they feature some trackers, but are still super functional and neat. The overall look of the spreads is just amazing, and the influence of architecture and art is tangible!

Look Bullet

I came across this Instagram account a few months ago and fell in love at first sight. The feed features both bullet journal pictures and stunning black ink drawings. Now that it’s been a few months since it started, it’s easy to see the evolution of the style as you scroll down to see older posts. The bullet journal spreads are very simple and straight to the point with a lot of blank space (I love blank space). Not to mention the drawings which are outstanding…

Bit of bujo

I’m following the adventures of Viola’s bullet journal for a while now and I can’t get enough of the simple beauty of her spreads. Everything is simple yet feeling effective. To be honest, beside the bullet journal posts, I’m in love with the atmosphere of Viola’s feed in general and find it very inspirational. I don’t know about you, but it makes me feel like drinking hot chocolate and journaling in my own notebook…

The group is fully dedicated to the bullet journal, with tons of inspiration. Even though everything’s in French (and we only allow French posts), I thought some of you who are learning French or can read and write may be interested in joining.

If you want to join the party, we’ll be happy to have you there! Click here to enter the group, and don’t forget to answer the question!